The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

[poledriver]

Carlisle drug lab 'not sophisticated'

The Perth Magistrates Court has been told a drug laboratory at the centre of charges against the WA Police Commissioner's son was not a sophisticated operation.

Karl O'Callaghan's 29-year-old son Russell is charged with attempting to manufacture amphetamines.

He did not attend court today, because he is still in hospital receiving treatment for burns he suffered when a drug laboratory exploded at a Carlisle house last month.

O'Callaghan's lawyer, Mark Andrews, told the court initial reports indicated the laboratory would only have produced a maximum of 1.2 grams of amphetamines so he said it could not be considered a sophisticated criminal operation.

Mr Andrews also said his client would be entering a drug rehabilitation clinic as soon as he was released from hospital, but he should be well enough to attend court for his next appearance in four weeks.

here

 

[poledriver]

Police seize $450,000 worth of drugs

The organised crime squad has arrested a Wanneroo man after finding drugs worth almost half one million dollars hidden in a car and at two houses.

Police stopped the 31 year-old as he was driving through Innaloo, in Perth's north last month.

They found a metal box hidden behind the steering column, which allegedly contained cocaine and amphetamines worth about $320,000.

Police say they found another $130,000 worth of drugs at the man's home.

Detective Superintendent Charlie Carver says a search of a second house in Inglewood uncovered more amphetamines, a replica World War 2 Luger firearm and 49 rounds of ammunition.

He says the quantity of drugs suggests the man is more than just a street dealer.

"You do not keep $250,000 worth of drugs in your house if you're a street dealer, so yes it will be alleged obviously that's it higher up the food chain so as I said it's a significant seizure for us," he said.

The man is facing a range of charges and is due to appear in court later this month.

here

 

[poledriver]

Drug seized worth almost half a million dollars

Western Australia's organised crime squad has arrested a Wanneroo man after finding drugs hidden behind the steering column of a car and at two houses.

Police stopped the 31 year-old as he was driving through Innaloo, in Perth's north last month.

They found a metal box hidden behind the steering column, which allegedly contained cocaine and amphetamines worth about $320,000.

Police say they found another $130,000 worth of drugs at the man's home.

Detective Superintendent Charlie Carver says a search of a second house in Inglewood uncovered more amphetamines, a replica World War 2 Luger firearm and 49 rounds of ammunition.

The man is facing a range of charges and is due to appear in court later this month.

here

 

[poledriver]

Police destroy $28m worth of cannabis

Nearly 14,000 cannabis plants valued at $28 million have been seized and destroyed in a major police operation in New South Wales.

Strike Force Unwin has been running since November, targeting crops grown throughout the state.

Plants have been seized in regions including Richmond, the mid-north coast and New England.

"Strike Force Unwin has been hugely successful thanks to the hard work of all the officers involved as well as the members of the community who report valuable information on drug crime," Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham said.

"Preventing these drugs from hitting the streets is going to have an impact on the availability of cannabis in these areas and hopefully disrupt the supply chain."

here

 

[JoshE]

Russell O'Callaghan to undergo drug rehab after hospital release

POLICE Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan's son remains in hospital suffering burns from a home drug lab explosion, but plans to undergo drug rehabilitation when he is released, his lawyer says.

Russell Joseph O'Callaghan, 29, and Jason Lee Marzoli, 29, were burned in an explosion at a unit in Carlisle, in Perth's south, at about 5.15pm (WST) on March 20.

Three others were also injured while two children, aged three and four, escaped harm.

O'Callaghan has spent the past two weeks in hospital for treatment to burns to his head, shoulders and arms.

Marzoli was treated for burns to his face and hands but is no longer in hospital.

O'Callaghan was due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday to face charges of attempting to manufacture a prohibited drug.

However, his lawyer Mark Andrews presented a medical certificate and told the court his client was still undergoing treatment at the Royal Perth Hospital burns unit.

His release date (from hospital) is uncertain,'' Mr Andrews said.

Mr Andrews said he was seeking a forensic report into the clandestine drug laboratory from police.

``I have received a preliminary report that indicates the maximum yield from the lab was 1.2 grams (of methylamphetamine),'' he said.

``It was not a sophisticated operation.''

Mr Andrews said his client planned to undergo rehabilitation for drug abuse upon his release from hospital and would appear in person at his next court date on April 29.

The commissioner has previously told reporters his son, who is also a father, had sought counselling for drug addiction in the past.

Marzoli represented himself in court on Friday to face the same charges of attempting to manufacture a prohibited drug.

He said he would seek legal advice before his next court appearance on April 29.

Marzoli was granted bail with an undisclosed personal undertaking and strict conditions including a curfew between 9pm (WST) and 6am (WST), and no contact with any of the witnesses.

If he needs to visit the Carlisle property to collect any personal belongings, Marzoli must inform police.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wes...hospital-release/story-e6frg13u-1226032073356

 

[poledriver]

NSW cops in steroid dealing scandal

Eight New South Wales police officers have been caught dealing, and in some cases using, illegal steroids.

A two-year investigation run by the Police Integrity Commission has uncovered a steroid ring based in Tamworth in the north of New South Wales.

The drugs were purchased over the internet and imported from Thailand before being on-sold.

One officer, who appealed against his dismissal over the matter, acted as a police informant.

One senior constable admitted to the commission he had been using the drugs himself.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione issued a statement saying that the matter demonstrates a zero-tolerance approach to police who fail to uphold the oath of office.

He says any officers who do not do the right thing are charged and put before the courts.

The operation investigating the drug ring wrapped up last year and the details of the matter only emerged when one of the officers sacked for using the drug unsuccessfully appealed against his dismissal.

here

 

[thestudent14]

NSW police bust internal steroid smuggling ring

NSW police bust internal steroid smuggling ring
By Brenden Hills
From: The Sunday Telegraph
April 03, 2011 1:44AM


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw...ng/story-e6frfkwi-1226032689208#ixzz1IQ2bMYue

Internal investigation codenamed Oklahoma
Used listening devices on police
Claims cops used, distributed steroids
A SECRET internal police investigation has smashed a steroid smuggling ring operating inside the NSW Police Force.

The two-year operation, codenamed Oklahoma, exposed at least eight serving officers allegedly using and distributing non-prescribed steroids, anabolic steroids and human growth hormones, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

The investigation focused on a group called the "Tamworth four", who Industrial Relations Commission documents alleged ran the steroid ring and talked about taking out a fellow officer who could have endangered their operation.

Details of the operation, which ran until last year, were revealed in a Commission hearing where an officer sacked for steroid use lodged an unsuccessful bid to get his job back. Constable Matthew Walsh claimed his sacking by police commissioner Andrew Scipione last June was harsh.

The Commission heard that using listening devices on mobile and police station phones, Operation Oklahoma's initial target was Tamworth senior constable Nathan McCulloch - a 15-year veteran of the NSW Police Force.

It was told the ring involved three other officers including McCulloch's wife, Elisa Maree McCulloch, a senior constable with 20 years' experience.

Another senior constable, Terri Whitton, was recorded having conversations with officers about sourcing steroids from her then boyfriend Ben Wilson - a forward for the Wee Waa Panthers rugby league team.

Constable Matthew Walsh admitted to using steroids sourced from McCulloch on multiple occasions, the court heard. He also admitted to being aware that the steroids were imported over the internet from Thailand and from other people in Australia.

All four officers were either sacked from the force or allowed to resign.

The documents also revealed the group was linked to local business people, rugby league players and at least four other serving officers, including one in Queensland who was known as "Fridge". None were prosecuted due to a lack of evidence, a police source said.

The four sacked officers were hauled before the Police Integrity Commission.

Evidence given in the Industrial Commission was that the steroids were imported via post from Thailand and from a local network in the Tamworth area.

When police raided McCulloch's home in 2008 he allegedly sent an SMS to his wife which said: "get the steroids out of the house".

Before that, the Commission heard that investigating officers intercepted a phone call between McCulloch and Walsh where they discussed another officer, Troy "Ling Ling" Rowland, who they said was "skiting off about the perfume", referring to pro-growth hormones. The two men discussed "doing a Brasco on him", Commission documents said. Asked if that meant "taking him out", Walsh said: "Yeah, possibly."

Whitton was ordered in Armidale Court to perform 150 community service hours after being convicted of giving false or misleading evidence to a commission on March 11.

Nathan McCulloch was fined $2500 after he was convicted on five charges including possessing an illegal steroidal agent, forging a prescription and drug supply.

Elisa McCulloch was charged but was not convicted.

The NSW Police Drug and Alcohol Policy states that officers are prohibited from using anabolic steroids or other steroids unless they are prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons.

A NSW Health spokesman said it is illegal to possess non-prescribed steroids.

A spokesman for the NSW Department of Health said all were anabolic steroids which are illegal unless prescribed by a doctor

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw...ng/story-e6frfkwi-1226032689208#ixzz1IQ2mZkX3

This sort of shit really piss's me off, I hate corrupt cops and I hate them fueling the stigma that cops are assholes. Which I imagine these definitely were when they're both using and distributing steroids.

Whitton was ordered in Armidale Court to perform 150 community service hours after being convicted of giving false or misleading evidence to a commission on March 11.

Nathan McCulloch was fined $2500 after he was convicted on five charges including possessing an illegal steroidal agent, forging a prescription and drug supply.

Elisa McCulloch was charged but was not convicted

.

This bothers me too, to me that seems like a very low charge when compared to illicit drugs. When steroids are proven to give people eratic behaviour and often agression, two things which definitely should not be tollerated in the police force. They should've been made an example of and gotten far worse punishments.

One gets 5 weeks full-time community service and the other gets 2,500 dollar fine... are you fuckin for real? They probably made more then that off their deals (just a guess I really don't know how profitable steroids are to deal but they wouldn't be doing it unless there was a market for it, right?).

Shit start to the day... least they got busted.

 

[poledriver]

[NZ] P mum's case is a legal first

A P-smoking mother has been convicted of giving her young daughters methamphetamine through second-hand smoke inhalation, in what experts are calling a legal first.

Child Youth and Family took the girls, aged 3 and 6, from their parents and put them in the care of family members.

Experts say the conviction paves the way for police to use the serious charge against parents in future.

Adriene Johnson, 27, has pleaded guilty to two counts of administering the highly addictive drug to her children and one of possession for a purpose.

Johnson was arrested in a police raid on her North Shore home, but her partner and father of the girls fled.

He is still on the run and arrest warrants have been issued for him. It is likely that, when captured, he will face the same charge. Johnson is due to be sentenced in Auckland District Court next month.

Child, Youth and Family operations head Marama Wiki said the girls were in the care of family members and were safe and well.

Samples of the children's hair that were sent for scientific analysis revealed they had been exposed to P for at least 18 months before the October police raid.


The charges were reported by the Herald on Sunday that month.

New Zealand Drug Detection Agency director of communications Nick Mcleay commended the police for taking the unusual step. Charges traditionally used in child P cases did not accurately reflect the seriousness of the offence, he said.

A charge of administering a class-A drug to a minor, however, carried a maximum penalty of life in prison. " It will be interesting to see whether [the courts] use the full force to send a deterrent message," Mcleay said. "It will be good to see them give a decent sentence to show it's unacceptable."

Children exposed to P, particularly when young, can suffer developmental problems and other chronic illness.

Otago University law professor Mark Henaghan said Johnson's guilty plea meant the legal arguments behind the charges were not heard and had not been tested to form precedent.

However, the conviction did allow police to lay the serious charge in future cases, something they would likely take full advantage of.

here

 

[poledriver]

drug lab located, Milton

A 36-year-old Milton man has been arrested and charged with six drug related offences following a police investigation of two suspected clandestine drug laboratories in a business complex in Milton today.

Police from the State Crime Operations Command State Drug Investigation Unit executed a search warrant on the Park Road address this morning.

As a precautionary measure an emergency situation was declared bordering Railway Terrace and Manning Street, along Milton Road and Park Road and Park Road to Gordon Street.

Police allegedly located glass ware and chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs.

Because of the complexity of the alleged laboratories police will be guarding the premises overnight and resuming their investigations in the morning.

The man was charged with two counts of producing a dangerous drug (methyl amphetamine), two counts of anything used in crime, possession of a dangerous drug (methyl amphetamine) and possession of a relevant thing.

He is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.

here

 

[poledriver]

Prison in lockdown over drug overdoses

The Fulham prison near Sale, in Victoria's east, is in lockdown after three prisoners overdosed on drugs.

One of the three inmates admitted to taking nine morphine tablets.

Another admitted to injecting drugs yesterday afternoon.

Two of the prisoners were taken to the Sale Hospital .

One is in intensive care in a stable condition, a second is being assessed and the third remained at the prison.

here

 

[poledriver]

Pinkstone re-appears in court over drug charges

A mid north coast man has re-appeared at a Sydney court over drug charges.

52-year-old Anthony Pinkstone was arrested in Sydney in December, as part of a crackdown on drug-related crime across the state.

Detectives then seized his multi-million dollar Sawtell home, along with luxury cars and motorcycles.

Pinkstone was refused bail last week when he appeared at the Central Local Court.

He is charged with supply prohibited drugs of commercial quantity.

The matter has been adjourned until May 5.

here

 

[poledriver]

$3.6 million worth of cannabis eradicated in New England LAC

Police have seized and destroyed $3.6 million worth of cannabis during a Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) in New England Local Area Command.

Strike Force Unwin comprises detectives from the State Crime Command Drug Squad Cannabis Team, with assistance from the NSW Police Air Wing, Dog Unit and various Local Area Commands.

Since early November, the strike force has been targeting crops throughout the state during the outdoor cannabis growing season which has now come to an end.

In the past week, police have raided crop sites within New England Local Area Command, targeting areas including Wytaliba, Diehard and Chaleundi National Park.

Of note, on Monday 28 March, police uncovered a clandestine drug laboratory at a commune on Old Grafton Road, Diehard.

Police obtained a search warrant for the premises and located 484 cannabis plants up to two metres tall. They have an estimated street value of $970,000.

A total of 1773 cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of $3.6 million were seized in the command in the past week and destroyed after police used intelligence-based investigations plus aerial and ground searches to uncover the crops.

“Strike Force Unwin has been hugely successful thanks to the hard work of all the officers involved as well as the members of the community who report valuable information on drug crime to Crime Stoppers and their local police,” said New England Local Area Command Crime Manager Greig Stier.

“Preventing these drugs from hitting our local streets is going to have an impact on the availability of cannabis in these areas and hopefully disrupt the supply chain.”

Investigations into those responsible for cultivating the plants is continuing and police have promised they’ll be back again for next season.

here

 

[poledriver]

Jail probes inmate drug overdoses

The operator of the Fulham prison near Sale is investigating how some of the prisoners got access to drugs on the weekend.

Two prisoners were taken to the Sale Hospital on Sunday after overdosing on drugs.

A spokesman for the prison's operators says a third inmate was treated at the prison.

The overdoses occurred after the Sunday visiting hours.

An investigation has been launched to try to work out how the drugs were brought in to the prison.

The prisoners who were treated in hospital were due to return to the prison yesterday.

here

 

[poledriver]

Drug charges Yeppoon

A 27-year-old Lammermoor man will face court after police allegedly located drug and drug related property at Lammermoor residence this afternoon.

Police executed a search warrant on a Scenic Highway property at around 10.30am and allegedly located items suspected of being used in the production of dangerous drugs.

The man has been charged with two counts of possession of a relevant substance or thing, two counts of possession of dangerous drug, possession of equipment used in a crime, possession of a utensil and unlawful possession of suspected stolen property.

He is due to appear in the Yeppoon Magistrates Court on May 6.

here

 

[poledriver]

Police hunt second man after drug raid

Queensland police say they are still looking for a man after a drug raid on Rockhampton's northern outskirts this week.

Police say they went to a house at Olive Estate on Monday and saw a rifle and syringes through a bedroom window.

They searched the property and say they found a toolbox full of drug-making equipment in the shed.

No-one was home at the time but a 46-year-old man was charged with a number of offences yesterday.

Regional crime coordinator Cal Lynch says detectives still want to talk to another resident of the Perrott Drive home.

Police also searched a unit at Lammermoor, near Yeppoon, where Inspector Lynch says they found amphetamines and drug-making equipment.

A 27-year-old man is due to appear in the Yeppoon Magistrates Court next month.

here

 

[poledriver]

Former cop fronts court on drugs charges

A former Queensland police officer has appeared in a Brisbane court on drugs charges.

It is alleged Natasha Nicole Fewson possessed and supplied ecstasy, methylamphetamine and cannabis in September and October last year.

It is claimed she also stole a drug-testing kit from the Beenleigh Police Station.

Fewson's arrest followed a seven-month investigation into several officers in the Logan district.

The 36-year-old has been granted bail and is due to face court again later this month.

here

 

[poledriver]

$90K of heroin sent to the wrong address

A 200 gram package of heroin worth around $90 000 has been seized by police in Broken Hill.

On the 10th of February a resident contacted police after receiving a package from an international address containing the illegal drug.

Detective Senior Constable Miroslav Petkovich says matter is still under investigation.

"This resident has contacted police who have seized the package containing an unidentified powdered substance and on further examination of the contents by Australian Customs and Border Protection the contents were confirmed as heroin with a street value of approximately $90 000.

"This matter is now under investigation by Australian Federal Police."

Detective Senior Constable Petkovich says it is a win for New South Wales Police.

"Well you can see erratic behaviour from someone who is on drugs, they can affect your health full stop as in internal organs can shut down, they can make you feel a euphoria that only lasts a short time.

"They can also make you feel angry which then can be taken out on relatives or loved ones or worse on member of the public that are quite strangers to you."

here

 

[poledriver]

Drug charges Dagun

A 31 year-old Dagun man is due to appear in the Gympie Magistrates Court on various drugs charges today.

Police executed a search warrant on a house in Amamoor Road where they located equipment used to produce drugs, yesterday afternoon.

The man was arrested and charged with one count each of produce a dangerous drug, possess relevant substance, possess things used in commission of a crime, possess dangerous drug, possess utensils and fail to take reasonable care with syringe.

here

 

[poledriver]

Burglary and location of cannabis, Wellington Point

Police are investigating a burglary in which several fire arms were stolen from a house in Wellington Point overnight.

Around 7.15pm unknown offenders have forced entry to a residence in Mindarie Crescent and once inside have broken into a locked gun safe and stolen several fire arms.

They were last seen leaving in silver coloured van.

During investigations police located the remnants of mature cannabis plants that had been growing in a hydroponic garden system inside the house.

The 32-year-old resident has been charged with one count each of produce dangerous drugs, possess dangerous drugs, possess instructions to produce dangerous drugs, possess utensils, possess thing used in the commission of a crime and possess thing for use in the commission of a crime.

He is due to appear in the Cleveland Magistrates Court on May 12.

Investigations are continuing into the burglary.

here

 

[poledriver]

Clandestine laboratory found QLD

POLICE are continuing their investigations at a residence in Perrott Dr, Rockyview after equipment for a clandestine laboratory was located.

Police allegedly located a firearm, drug utensils and drug laboratory components at the residence after executing a search warrant.

A 46-year-old man was issued a Notice to Appear for drug matters. Investigations are continuing.

here